Sea urchins on a cart : this is how we do Christmas in the Campo De Gibraltar

This is how we do it in Southern Andalusia during Christmas : we go to an “erizada” in Algeciras or Cadiz and have a dozen (or 6 dozen) freshly caught sea urchins for 6 euros a plate in a plaza in the sun .

In Algeciras for example, there is a company called ortiguilla.com which is reviving this old tradition of eating sea urchins between December and February each year and having them available in certain locations . The sea urchins come from the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean which meet in the “campo De Gibraltar” area around the town of Algeciras , where Spain faces Africa and the straights of Gibraltar . These neat little metal carts appear in the main squares loaded with fresh urchins and a nice lady will open them and clean them for you. Then you can sit at any of the bars on the square with your paper plate loaded with sweet sea urchins and order some octopus salad or fried squid and a glass of light fino sherry : heaven !

There is a great website if you are interested in following the many gastronomic events in those parts of the world. I love reading it , it is so exotic and full of folklore , I highly recommend subscribing to their newsfeed if you love food and events created around traditional foods , local gastronomy and strange festivities of rural Andalusia . It is called Cosas De Comé. Check it out !

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